What is a zombie company ?
If you’ve ever seen horror movies, you’ll know that when you see a zombie, you should start running! Well, the term is also used in the world of business to describe companies which are hugely indebted and only able to pay their fixed costs and interest, but not actually able to reduce the debt itself. Much like the horror film c ... Show More
Today
Why do our stomachs rumble?
It can be embarrassing when your stomach rumbles in public, but it’s a totally natural bodily function. The scientific name for those rumbles or growls is borborygmi, a term invented by the ancient Greeks. We tend to associate stomach rumbles with hunger, but that’s not totally t ... Show More
5m 12s
Today
Why are barcodes set to disappear?
Ever since they were first introduced in the United States in 1973, barcodes have been part of our everyday consumer lives. They helped stores around the world transition to digital, but their days are numbered. That’s right, traditional barcodes are due to be gradually replaced ... Show More
4m 47s
Jun 2025
125. Zombie Illnesses: Rabies, Parasites and Prions
What kind of illness turns deer into stumbling, soulless shells of themselves—bodies wasting away, but never truly dying? Or drives healthy young men into violent frenzies that leave them strapped to hospital beds, terrified of water? This week, we’re diving into the terrifying w ... Show More
34m 22s
Sep 2024
Planet Money: Zombie 2nd Mortgages
<p>Karen MacDonough had paid her mortgage for years, raised her family, and lived a quiet life in her Quincy, Massachusetts home—until one day, a group of strangers appeared on her lawn, claiming her house was up for foreclosure. What followed was a surreal discovery of “zombie m ... Show More
33m 16s